Forensic Chemistry is centred on the discipline of Forensic toxicology which is vital in the investigation into deaths that are caused by murder, overdoses, and poisonings (Mushoff, F. et al. 2010). It can analyse human remains that are both pre and post mortem and allows the scientist valuable insight into what chemicals may have affected each particular sample (Davis GG, 2012).
It is a most valuable discipline in forensic science as it can detect minute trace amounts of chemicals that may have otherwise been missed in the analysis (Davis GG, 2012). The most common test done by Forensic toxicologists are to find any traces of drugs or poisons within the human remains being analysed (Daniel. R et al. 2004).
Often these tests are done to aid an investigation and the analysis of the human remains may have to be presented in court, therefore there are strict guidelines that must be followed by the toxicologist to make sure that the evidence will stand in court. To ensure this happens when analysis of a human remain is being conducted it is has to be tracked and labelled at all times so that whoever is working with it has noted that they have done so and the time that they had the sample (Davis GG, 2012)
There are a few main processes that are undertaken by toxicologist to analyse human remains such as blood, urine, hair, nails and other post mortem bodily fluids (Napoletano S et al. 2012). The most common of them Gas chromatography, Liquid chromatography, and Mass spectrometry, these processes enable the toxicologist to identify and measure the chemical compounds that may be found in the human remains (Sergi M. et al. 2012).
Forensic Chemistry is centred on the discipline of Forensic toxicology which is vital in the investigation into deaths that are caused by murder, overdoses, and poisonings (Mushoff, F. et al. 2010). It can analyse human remains that are both pre and post mortem and allows the scientist valuable insight into what chemicals may have affected each particular sample (Davis GG, 2012).
Often these tests are done to aid an investigation and the analysis of the human remains may have to be presented in court, therefore there are strict guidelines that must be followed by the toxicologist to make sure that the evidence will stand in court. To ensure this happens when analysis of a human remain is being conducted it is has to be tracked and labelled at all times so that whoever is working with it has noted that they have done so and the time that they had the sample (Davis GG, 2012)
There are a few main processes that are undertaken by toxicologist to analyse human remains such as blood, urine, hair, nails and other post mortem bodily fluids (Napoletano S et al. 2012). The most common of them Gas chromatography, Liquid chromatography, and Mass spectrometry, these processes enable the toxicologist to identify and measure the chemical compounds that may be found in the human remains (Sergi M. et al. 2012).
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